The One That Got Away

People ask me if I've ever sold anything I wish I had kept. This crochet blanket is one thing I really would have liked to keep, so colorful, so well made, but it went to a loving home for a special person, so I'm glad it went. Look at those colors!

Dog not included. :)

 

As I begin to close down Scout and Rescue--it hasn't been bringing in the business I'd hoped for--I will be posting more blankets this fall at Dahlila Found. 

Vintage Dresses: Proms, Weddings, A Stroll in the Park

Everything feels frilly & lovely, ready for summer romance, prom nights & weddings. I could drown in tulle and lace, but more often than not I'd wear them with cowboy boots. ;)

New finds in the shop now--the two negligees will be in later today, but I had to show you!

Enjoy! Dahlila xo

New Spring Dresses, Vintage 2013

Today was all about washing, ironing & shooting photos. It was such a warm day I pulled the ironing board outside. Me, the dogs, coffee & some meditative ironing.
These new dresses will be coming to Dahlila Found as fast as I can get them posted.

Mod floral scarf from Argentina, hand rolled edges. Stunning. 

 

Psychedelic caftan, satiny, bold, eclectic.

 Mod geometric print top, rayon, Wild print. I love the white round zipper pull. 

 Floral spring sun dress with a bow. Needs a big floppy hat. (color is true to the left photo, buttery yellow.)

Vibrant silk floral wiggle dress with ruching & floral bow. Stunning!

Stay tuned to Dahlila Found for more fashion, dresses, blouses, skirts & of course, accessories!

d, xo

Color Splurge!

New find: groovy vintage pillow cover in wild navy, aqua blue & green. (I remember these in 60's ski cabins--as I grew up in a ski town. This one is plush & in pristine condition; Approx. 25" wide with tassels & a metal zipper for pillow insert. 

I'll be posting this at Scout and Rescue!

Get your groove on. :)

d xo

Vintage Winter: SWEATERS!

It's been THREE months since I posted a piece! I admit I have been swayed away by the ease of Facebook posts, but it's not quite the same. 

I promise to post more!

For now, we have SWEATERS!! New pieces coming to Dahlila Found in the next few days.

Super cute, warm & colorful. Winter needs more fun. 

dahlila, xo

Found: Booby-Trap!

I spotted the old board game box box amongst a plethora of jigsaw puzzles at the thrift store, an original Booby-Trap game by Parker Brother, 1965. I gasped & nabbed it with that exhilaration reserved for great finds like Famolare wedge heels, Spirographs, a pink Samsonite train case. :-) I slipped it into my cart with a hint of glee on my face & went on my way.

As with everything, I thought it would be a great piece for the shop. Who didn't love Booby-Trap? But EBay is surprisingly covered with them and I'm a bit relieved, because now I can keep it.

I grew up in the mountains, snowbound all winter. We kids thrilled to be outdoors, building snow forts, sledding down deadly inclines, and precariously hanging from the the second story deck rail and falling into snowbanks, but eventually we'd get cold and spend the day indoors playing board games: Clue, Masterpiece, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Battleship, Life, Stratego, Booby-trap.

I don't know where the game came from, as it was toted as a bar game, not a kid game, but we had one and I loved to play. SNAP, went the trap, as you eased the wood pieces out of their tight squeeze. It was a vintage version of Jenga or pick-up sticks, it required skill, patience and a long winter.

I think I'll take this up to my parents house and teach my niece to play. We'll make popcorn and sit around the table with the family who still loves to play board games. :-)

d xo

The Smith-Corona & The Electrolux

I finally--FINALLY!--got out the big guns, the pink Smith-Corona and the Electrolux. They both needed spiffing up a bit, but they are shiny clean now and working!  I. Am. Thrilled. :-)

The Smith-Corona is incredibly clean. It does need a new ribbon, but that's easily remedied. Look at those fabulous deco lines. It matches my bedroom! But alas, where would I possibly display it? Still, dreamy!

The Electrolux is so handsomely Art Deco, with the sleek sled blades, the body, the lines. It's made of solid metals & has a cloth vacuum bag (newly washed). It comes with the original cloth woven hose AND a newer version that creates a better suction. I want shag carpet, a martini and stiletto mules. A girl can vacuum in style too. :-)

Now, my only decisions is where to post them. Dahlila Found or my very new Scout and Rescue for vintage home decor? I think they will be living at the later--until, perhaps, they belong to you.

Enjoy! d, xo.

  



Savory Scones

I may have picked the wrong night to turn on the oven (heat wave, 83 degrees today. Yuck.) but I had to make these Tomato Feta Scones by Savory Sweet Life on the Etsy blog and they are delish!

I had to make a few minor adjustments to the recipe. I didn't have garlic salt, a food processor, a baking stone or even parchment paper, but I made due and if someone doesn't take them away soon, I may eat another. I really love savory baked goods. If you have the ingredients, they're an easy to prepare treat. Great with wine or coffee. :-)

My adjustments:

1) For garlic salt I used Mrs. Dash, Original Seasoning Blend (salt free, which is good because the feta & the butter (oh, I didn't have unsalted butter either) are plenty of salty.

2) Instead of roasted red tomatoes from a fancy (read expensive) deli, I used Green Chile & Roasted Tomato Chunky Salsa from Archer Farm. Next time I want to try real roasted red peppers (I roast them straight on the gas range. Super yummy, but tomatoes, I'm not sure how that works. Experiment. You may find something better.

3) I love feta cheese so it was a must, but cheddar or Swiss would make a good substitute if you're making them for kids or someone who's not a feta fan--I can't imagine.  

4) No parchment paper or baking stone, no problem, a lightly buttered baking tray worked great.

5) Mine were thicker than 1" when I flattened the dough & stickier (surely from the salsa) so I cut them into 6 pieces instead of eight. They're big, fluffy and dreamy.

6) Also, because of the size & density, I baked them for nearly 25 minutes. Check on them often.

Thank you Savory Sweet Life. This is exactly what I've been wanting.

dahlila xo

Lemons & Clover: Sunny Spring Finds

I took a big jump I've been meaning to take for a few months now. I opened a new Etsy store. I'm not ready for you to see the inside just yet. There are only a few posts and a simple banner, but once I get it all dolled up I will invite you all for the grand opening.

Part of me feels like I'm deserting Dahlila, Found--and I'm not!! (I'm telling myself this more than you.) It's a bit like having a second child: you still adore your first baby, but now she has to share the love.

Below are some great spring finds you will soon find in the new shop: bright colors, sunny yellows, grassy greens, cobalt blues. Fun for stashing cookies or planting flowers. I am going to love running this shop!

dahlila xo



Secret Stash: Celluloid Vanity Case

It's time to take down another box from the closet, dust it off and share it with you. This case blesses the Top 5 of vintage goods I'd grab if running from a burning building. (Number one is my grandmothers leopard skin pill box hat with matching muff.)

So, without further ado, let's draw the velvet curtain. Lights. Camera. Say, "oooooooohhhhhh!"

THE ALLIGATOR LEATHER CELLULOID VANITY TRAIN CASE
I'm not certain if it's real alligator. (You can't see it well from here). The handle is also leather. I love the pointed "spades on each tip). Notice, there are TWO latches, for two separate compartments. AND the main compartment has TWO small skeleton keys and they work...

Now, look inside, "voila!" A celluloid vanity set in marbled chartreuse with light translucent gold underlay. (When the latch pops "click!" and opens, even I hold my breathe.)

From left to right: pieces of a nail file, a soap box, a shoe horn, a horse-hair brush, a hairpin box, a toothbrush box, a shoe hook. Below: a powder box (still filled with a dreamy sweet powder) and a comb.

 Opening the second compartment...

A full view, with the beveled mirror. The lining is brocade. 

The full bottom compartment: three stretch pockets along the bottom sides and a larger one on top. All the elastic is good and holds, the fabric is dreamy. It's okay to swoon now. I'll get the smelling salts.

I'd like to research my case a bit more. There's not a single tag on it anywhere. Nothing!

Some days, I imagine a lady of leisure carried it with her on a train, laid out on fine linen while she brushed her hair and powdered her nose. Others, I imagine a traveling salesman carried it great distances selling each celluloid piece to ladies across the country.

What do you think?

dahlila xxoo



Family Contraptions: The Toas-Tite Maker

Thank you John E. Strietelmeier. Toas-Tite "Sandwich Grill" inventor, 1945

Three generations of women in my family have owned Toas-Tite makers. I grew up making the delectable Toasted sandwiches dripping with melted cheese. When it snowed and I had to shovel the entire frozen deck that wrapped half way around our house I made them with  tomato soup. I swear it saved my frost bitten little life.

There is no trick to it; even a kid can do it. Insert two slices of bread slathered in butter or mayonnaise and filled with cheese in the clam-like grips, tighten it, trim off the excess and put it on the stove. Flip it once, check it for bubbles. Eat!

Dinner on the burner. I had to demonstrate!

Toasty, a bit black, how I like it.

Wa-la! Insta' drippy cheese. Here: oatmeal bread and Irish cheddar cheese, but Rainbow bread and cheese slices will work in a 1960's minute.

Recently, I found this one at an estate sale and nearly squealed. They're rather rare and this one not only has the original instructions, but is pre-patent, dating it to the early 40s. Plus, it has a RED handle! (Ladies, it's the little things.)

I called mom to share. She double checked to make sure she still had hers.

"Does the cabin have one?" she asked. I thought so.

"Does Aunt G have one?" I asked. She thought so.

We double checked our mental family lists. Everyone had one. SO, if I can ungrip my toasty fingers from this lovely specimen I will actually sell it in the shop. (Don't rush me! I'm letting go.) If this ever truly happens, you can join the ranks of kitchy owners of comfort food contraptions. The Toas-tite maker. It rocks.

It doubles as a Xena Warrior breast plate. Halloween surprise?

d. xxoo

P. S. You can go nuts with homemade, but I'm afraid the tomato rice soup was Campbell's. ;-)